What Follows From State-Mandated Pregnancy?
Authors: Jake Earl, Caitlin J. Cain
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2023)

Ideas and OpinionsFebruary 2023What Follows From State-Mandated Pregnancy?Jake Earl, PhD and Caitlin J. Cain, MDJake Earl, PhDGeorgetown University, Washington, DC (J.E.)Search for more papers by this author and Caitlin J. Cain, MDWeill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian, New York, New York (C.J.C.).Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M22-2879 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail In 1971, months before Roe v. Wade came to the Supreme Court, philosopher Judith Jarvis Thomson published her groundbreaking essay, “A Defense of Abortion” (1). Thomson argued that even if we assume that fetuses have full moral personhood and moral rights, abortion remains an ethical choice in many cases. Carrying a pregnancy is like sharing your organs with an unfortunate adult who needs them to survive—an extremely noble thing to do, but usually morally optional, given the substantial risks and burdens involved. A just government cannot force you to give up control of your body for another person's well-being, even ...References1. Thomson JJ. A defense of abortion. Philos Public Aff. 1971;1:47-66. Google Scholar2. Deal L. State laws restricting or prohibiting abortion. Accessed at https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10779 on 22 November 2022. Google Scholar3. Guttmacher Institute. State bans on abortion throughout pregnancy. Accessed at www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/state-policies-later-abortions on 23 November 2022. Google Scholar4. Thune J. A victory for life. Accessed at www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/7/thune-a-victory-for-life on 22 November 2022. Google Scholar5. Borgatta L, Kapp N; Society of Family Planning. Clinical guidelines. Labor induction abortion in the second trimester. Contraception. 2011;84:4-18. [PMID: 21664506] doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2011.02.005 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Missouri Rev Stat ch 188, §015 (2019). Accessed at https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=188.015&bid=47547 on 22 November 2022. Google Scholar7. Hoyert DL. Maternal mortality rates in the United States, 2020. NCHS Health E-Stats. 2022. doi:10.15620/cdc:113967 CrossrefGoogle Scholar8. Gaston RS, Kumar V, Matas AJ. Reassessing medical risk in living kidney donors. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015;26:1017-9. [PMID: 25255922] doi:10.1681/ASN.2014030227 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Shahawy S, Rattani A. The fall of Roe v Wade: a call to action for religious medical providers [Letter]. Lancet. 2022;400:93. [PMID: 35779557] doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01240-5 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Clowse MEB, Saag KG. Unintended consequences of SCOTUS abortion decision for patients with rheumatic diseases [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2022;175:1328-9. [PMID: 35939808] doi:10.7326/M22-2246 LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Jake Earl, PhD; Caitlin J. Cain, MDAffiliations: Georgetown University, Washington, DC (J.E.)Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian, New York, New York (C.J.C.).Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the authors' organizations.Acknowledgment: The authors thank Arthur Arcaz, MD, MBA, for his thoughtful review and feedback on this article.Disclosures: Authors have reported no disclosures of interest. Forms can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M22-2879.Corresponding Author: Jake Earl, PhD, Georgetown University, 3700 O Street NW, Washington, DC 20007; e-mail, [email protected]edu.Author Contributions: Conception and design: C.J. Cain, J. Earl.Analysis and interpretation of the data: J. Earl.Drafting of the article: C.J. Cain, J. Earl.Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: C.J. Cain, J. Earl.Final approval of the article: C.J. Cain, J. Earl.Administrative, technical, or logistic support: J. Earl.Collection and assembly of data: J. Earl.This article was published at Annals.org on 17 January 2023. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics February 2023Volume 176, Issue 2Page: 270-271KeywordsFetusesPatient advocacyPregnancyTermination of pregnancy ePublished: 17 January 2023 Issue Published: February 2023 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2023 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...